Astronaut Joseph Acaba teaches teachers about science and NASA

Fifty teachers from across Texas sat in on a lecture by astronaut Joseph M. Acaba on Monday, June 24, at the International Cultural Center on the Texas Tech campus.

Acaba, who has spent a total of 138 days in space during two missions, addressed the fourth annual MS 2 Conference, a middle school math and science scholarship degree program.

Responding to a question about exercise in space, Acaba said astronauts do work out while in space. "If you don't work out for a long period of time - six months - you definitely are going to have some muscle atrophy."

Describing his condition after an extended stay at a space station, he said, "I came back as strong as I've ever been."

Acaba said the space program is all built on science and engineering.

"The engineering is the application of science," he said, "so coming here today and talking to mostly middle-school teachers who are trying to integrate math and science, one of the most important things I can do now for my job is to get out there and share my story and tell them why I think it's important."

He added, "They know that; the challenge is actually doing it. And these teachers are great - they are taking a lot of their personal time. You know, they don't get more money, they don't get anything else other than a better class for their students."

Mark McGinley, associate professor in the Honors College at Texas Tech, explained that the masters program is designed to teach middle-school teachers how to integrate math and science.

"The students in this program are the school teachers."

He added, "I think that being able to integrate math and science is critical to keeping America developing at the top levels - economically, intellectually and industrially - like we hope to be."

Maria Centeno of El Paso, an MS 2 program candidate, said she teaches sixth- through eighth-grade math classes.

"The MS 2 program increases our content knowledge of chemistry, math, physics and engineering," she said. "It also made me aware of different opportunities available to teachers to go back to a campus and try to have an impact as far as promoting more of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math at our campuses and districts."

She evaluated Acaba's lecture performance in a positive way. Noting he comes from a background of teaching, she said, "He did well. And the fact that he is just a regular educator and was selected (by NASA), is amazing."

She added, "I know that to qualify you have to be in good physical shape - which he is, so good for him."

Acaba, 46, keeps in condition with outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking and kayaking.

When his speaking session was finished, teachers rushed forward like a battery of media photographers before a film star to photograph him with cell phones, then each posed with him for a picture by passing phones to other teachers.

ray.westbrook@lubbockonline.com

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